ATL95LA105

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Bessemer, AL · June 6, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 6, 1995, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC)
Place
Bessemer, AL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N4625PCessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 13, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950606017779A
Case key
3567

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a touch and go landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff
Touch-and-go
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Object - aircraft parked/standing

Analysis

The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight. His instructor had flown him to a different airport from the home airport, because of crosswinds at the home airport. On his third touch and go, after adding full power, raising the flaps, and closing the carburetor heat, the student lost directional control. The airplane veered left off of the runway, and collided with two parked aircraft. The student had 12 total flight hours with 0.3 pilot in command hours, which were acquired during the accident flight.

Factual narrative

On June 6, 1995, about 1510 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N4625P, collided with parked airplanes during the go-around portion of a touch and go landing at Bessemer, Alabama. The airplane was operated by Phoenix Aviation of Alabama under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the solo, instructional flight. There were no injuries to the student pilot, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Bessemer, about 1500, on the same day.

The pilot reported that he touched down on the left tire, then bounced alternately between tires a few times. He then initiated the go-around by retracting the landing flaps, adding full power, and closing the carburetor heat. The airplane veered left, crossed a grass area, and collided with the parked airplanes. The student reported that he and his instructor had flown from Shelby County, where he normally flies, to Bessemer, because the wind was aligned with the runway and calmer, at Bessemer. This flight was his first solo, and the accident occurred on the third touch and go landing. The student had a total of twelve flight hours, all in the same make and model airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N4625P
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15284786
Airframe hours
5,768
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Phoenix Aviation Of Alabama
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · May 22, 1995 · 40 hours before
Departed
2A3
Airport
2A3 · Bessemer, runway 23, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
23
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
12 total · 12 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
230° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
2A3, 1 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.